Movie Premiere (North America) May 30, 1997

 

Behind the Scenes & Publicity Photos

Images captured from DVD

(Images are copyright © 1997 New Line New Media, Inc.)

 

Synopsis

Trial and Error is a comedy about a well-intentioned, out-of-work actor who poses as an attorney to defend a man on trial for fraud. Starring Michael Richards, Jeff Daniels, Charlize Theron, Jessica Steen and Rip Torn, the film will be released nationally by New Line Cinema on May 30, 1997.

Richard Rietti (MICHAEL RICHARDS) has planned the mother of all bachelor parties for his best friend, Charles Tuttle (JEFF DANIELS). But just days before the wedding, the bachelor bash is called off. Charles' boss has dispatched his future son-in-law to a desolate desert town to handle a secret family legal matter.

Unwilling to let work get in the way of his well-planned evening of debauchery, Richard makes a command decision: If Charles can't come to the party, the party will go to Charles. Richard mobilizes a few friends from his acting class and takes the festivities on the road. When Charles checks into his no-frills hotel, he is less than thrilled to find Richard and his flaky entourage revved up and ready to rumble.

Uptight, nervous about his impending wedding to his materialistic fiancee Tiffany (ALEXANDRA WENTWORTH), and in desperate need of a way to unwind, Charles reluctantly agrees to a night on the town -- a night that leaves him bruised, babbling and nearly comatose.

The following morning, Richard is unable to snap Charles out of his stupor. Recognizing the vital importance of this career-making-or-breaking court appearance, Richard grabs Charles' suit and heads to the courthouse as a stand-in for his hung-over friend.

All he has to say is one line: "Your Honor, my client requests a continuance." Richard regards it as nothing more than a "walk-on," but, to his horror, the simple motion is denied, and the trial is scheduled to begin immediately. Richard finds himself facing the toughest performance of his acting career.

ith the skill of a lawyer whose education consists of reading the scholarly legal journal Dramalogue, Richard clumsily begins defending his "client," Benny Gibbs (RIP TORN), a mail-order con artist who has been defrauding pensioners by selling "engraved copper portraits of Abraham Lincoln" -- pennies.

When Charles sobers up, he finds Richard knee-deep in a charade capable of landing everyone in jail. Forced to hide his true identity and serve as Richard's law clerk, Charles sees that his brilliant law career will be destroyed if the truth is discovered. Meanwhile, his obnoxious best friend has become obsessed with winning the case and relishes his role as lead counsel.

Rebuffed and ultimately kicked out of the courtroom, Charles finds comfort in Billie (CHARLIZE THERON), a waitress he met the night of the bachelor party. She takes him away from the bedlam of the trial and through their relationship, Charles begins questioning the direction of his life.

And when Richard falls for the prosecuting attorney (JESSICA STEEN), he feels that he has to reveal the truth ... the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

TRIAL & ERROR PREMIERE  IMAGES

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(All images are copyright © 1997 New Line New Media, Inc.)

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